Amazon stream biotope aquarium, a freshwater habitat in Peru
Rainforest stream
Fallen trees have opened a light gap around a rainforest stream. Careful examination will reveal a substrate of rocks. Lots of wood and tree branches are present in the stream, providing shelter for fish.
BIOTOPE AQUARIA
A biotope aquarium is set-up to simulate a natural habitat. The fish, plants, water chemistry, light conditions, and tank furnishings are similar to those that can be found in a specific natural setting.
RAINFOREST STREAM IN SOUTHWESTERN PERU
The southeastern part of Peru is arguably the most biodiverse place on the planet. This biological wealth extends to the river systems found in this tropical rainforest environment.
This biotope profile will look specifically at a rainforest stream flowing into the Madre de Dios River.
Rainforest streams
Small rainforest streams are common in this part of Peru. They generally arise from springs and range in width from a few inches to 10-14 feet according to Amazon Headwaters. Rainforest streams in the region rarely exceed 3 miles (5 km) in length.
Rainforest Stream Characteristics
Depth: Depth ranges from a few centimeters to rarely more than 5 feet (1.5 m).
Temperature: Temperature is relatively constant due to shading by the forest canopy. Streams are roughly 1-2 degrees cooler than river channels.
Water chemistry: According to Amazon Headwaters, there is high variation of water chemistry between streams. In their survey, the authors found the pH to range from 3.8-4.9 while conductivity was 10-15. pH and conductivity rise during the low water period, possibly due to "increased phytoplankton production." Water transparency also increases at this time.
Oxygen levels: Oxygen concentrations are generally high but fall slightly when large quantities of organic matter are present.
Substrate: The substrate consists of mud or sand with overlaying organic matter and vegetation in varying states of decomposition. There is a large amount of submerged wood and in some areas, especially fast-flowing sections, there may be a cover of pebbles and stones.
Aquatic Plants
I observed very few aquatic plants in the rainforest stream -- especially in shaded areas where very little light penetrate the dense canopy. In a unshaded pool section an Amazon sword plant (Echinodorus sp.) was present along with a grassy Vallisneria-like plant. There were plants growing with roots submerged but leaves emersed in some sections of the stream. It is a different case in the nearby forest "swamp ponds."
Surrounding vegetation: The stream is surrounded by rainforest.
Tank setup
Tank size will depend on the type of fish you plan to keep in your biotope aquarium. If you are going with smaller tetras, catfish, and Apistogramma then you can use a smaller tank than if you plan to go with larger cichlids.
Current: Current ranges from very slight to moderate (in shallow areas with a pebble substrate). If you are going for a "stream pool" effect then direct filter outflows to moderate water current.
Lighting: Rainforest streams are generally shaded by an overhead canopy minimizing plant growth and resulting in dark conditions. However, in "light gaps" where trees have recently fallen, sunlight is quite bright. If you want to model your biotope after an exposed area then you could use bright overhead lighting.
Layout: Few plants, lots of wood, and open swimming areas are recommended.
Substrate: Fine gravel or sand overlaid with pebbles and rocks.
Other notes: You might consider using some peat moss in your filtration system to reduce the pH and soften the water. Peat moss can also mimic the slightly tea-colored water conditions that result from decaying vegetation.
Fish suitable for aquariums
The rio Madre de Dios probably has more than 600 species, many of which have yet to be described according to Amazon Headwaters. Detritus-feeders, invertebrate-feeders, and seed- and fruit-eating species are abundant in the system.
The aquarium fisheries trade began in the department of Madre de Dios in 2002 according to Amazon Headwaters. The book says the rio Madre de Dios headwaters regions has advantages when compared with aquarium trade fisheries in other parts of the Amazon, namely that the seasonal high water period is "neither too deep nor too long to prevent aquarium trade fisherman from working during the rainy season. Elsewhere in the Amazon Basin aquarium trade fisheries largely stop during the flooding season." Further, the rio Madre de Dios watershed had a large number of endemic species, some of which are small and decorative enough to be attractive as aquarium fish. The book lists the following genera as promising for the aquarium trade: Abramites, Corydoras, Pterolebias, Apistogramma, Crenicichla, Mesonatua, Carnegiella, Gymnocorymbus, Hemigrammus, Tyttocharax, Tyttobrycon, Pyrrhulina, Ancistrus, Hypostomus, Pimelodella, and Pimelodus.
The following fish were observed in the rainforest stream:
Mesonauta festivum and Moenkhausia sp. were the most conspicuous fish. Also present were river shrimp, leeches, and Ramshorn-like snails.
FRESHWATER FISHES OF THE TAMBOPATA NATIONAL RESERVE
Compiled by Mario Napravnik
CHARACIDAE (72)
Acestrocephalus boehlkei
Acestrorrhynchus lacustris
Cachoro, Pike characin
Aphyocharax pusillus
Bloodfin
Aphyocharax alburnus
Bloodfin
Aphyocheirodon sp
Astyanaclnus multidens
Aslyanax abramis
Astyanax anteroides
Aslyanax bimaculatus
Astyanax fasciatus
Two spotted Astianax Silvery tetra
Astyanax maxiumus
Bario steindachneri
Blotch tailed bario
Brachichalcinus copei
Brycon erythropterum
Sabalo cola roja
Bryconacydnus ellisi
Bryconamencus pachacuti
Bryconops melanurus
Tail light tetra
Characidium fasciatus
Charax gibbosus
Glass Headstander
Charax tectifer
Glass Headstander
Cheirodon fugitiva
Cheirodon piaba
Cheirodon ait. notomelas
Creagrutus affinis
Creagrutus anary
Creagrutus beni
Ctenobrycon hauxwellianus
Galeocharax gulo
Gephyrocharax sp
Gymnocorymbus temetzi
Black widow, Skirt Tetra
Gymnocorymbus thayeri
Hemibrycon jelskii
Hemibrycon jabonero
Hemigrammus lunatus
Hemigrammus ocellifer
Head and tail light tetra
Hemmigrammus sp
Holoshestes heterodon
Hydroyicus sconberoides
Hyphessobrycon agulha
Red tailed flag tetra
Hysteronotus sp
Knodus aff. beta
Knodus gamma
Knodus megalops
Knodus aff. moenkhausii
Knodus smitthii
Knodus sp
Leptagoniates aff. pi
Moenkhausia barbouri
Moenkhausia comma
Moenkhausia dichroura
Spot tailed Moenkhausia
Moenkhausia jamesii
Moenkhausia oligolepis
Glass tetra
Moralesia tectifera
Myleus rubripinnis
Othonocheirodus lethostigmus
Paragoniates alburnus
Phenacogaster pectinatus
Piabina beni
Piaractus brachyponus
Pacu
Pigocentrus nattereri
Red piranha
Poptella compresa
Prionobrama filigera
Glass bloodfin
Raphiodon vulpinus
Chambira
Rhynobrycon negrensis
Roeboides affinis
Glass characin
Roeboides myersii
Glass characin
Salminus aflinis
Serrasalmus humeralis
Piranha
Serrasalmus rhombeus
Black piranha, Spotted piranha
Serrasalmus spilopleura
Fire mouth piranha
Tetragonopterus argenteus
Triportheus albus
Sardina, sapanama
Triportheus angulatus
Sardina, Narrow Hatchetfish, sapanama
Tyttocharax sp
Bristly mouthed tetra
GASTEROPELECIDAE (3)
Hatchet fish
Carnegiella schereri
Hatchet lish
Carnegiella myersii
Myersi hatchetfish
Thoracocharax stellatus
Silver hatchetfish
ERYTHRINIDAE (3)
Trahlras, huasacos
Erythrynus eryihrinus
Short finned trahira
Hoplerytrhinus unitaeniatus
Trahiras, huasacos
Hoplias malabaricus
Fasaco, Tiger fish, trahira
LEBIASINIDAE (1)
Pyrrhulina
Pyrrhulina vittata
Banded pyrrhulina
PROCHILODONTIDAE(2)
Prochilodus mariae
Prochilodus nigricans
CURIMATIDAE (5)
Curimata sp
Cyphocharax sp
Steindachnerina dobula
Steindachnerina guentheri
Steindachnerina hypostoma
ANOSTOMIDAE (3)
Leporinus
Leporinus friderici
Friderici leporinus
Leporinus striatus
Striped leporinus
Leporinus yophoru
GYMNOTIDAE (2)
Knife fish
Gymnotus carapo
Banded Knife fish
Gymnotus coatesi
Knife fish
STERNOPYGIDAE (2)
Knife fish
Stemopygus macrurus
Ghost Knife fish
Sternopygus virescens
Knife fish
HYPOPOMIDAE (2)
Knife fish
Hypopomus muelleri
Knife fish
Hypopomus sp
Spoted knife fish
ELECTROOPHORIDAE (1)
Electric eel
Electrophous electricus
Electric eel
RHAMPHICHTHYIDAE (1)
Gymnorhamphichthys sp
POTAMOTRIGONIDAE (1)
Potamotrygon motoro
Freshwater Stingray
ENGRAULIDAE (3)
Anchoviella carrikeri
Anchoviella guianensis
Lycengraulis batessi
ASTROBLEPIDAE (1)
Astroblepus sp
RIVULIDAE (1)
Rivulus urophtalmos
SCIAENIDAE (1)
Pachyurus schomburgkii
Amazon croaker
SYNBRANCHIDAE (1)
Synbranchus marmoratus
Atinga, Marbled Eel
CICHLIDAE (9)
Aequidens tetramerus
Saddle Cichlid
Apistogramma luelingi
Apistogramma urteagai
Bujurquina cordemadi
Bujurquina tambopatae
Tambopata Flag Cichlid
Cichlasoma boliviense
Crenicichla semicincta
Pike Cichlid
Mesonauta festivum
Festive Cichlid
Satanoperca jurupari
Jurupari, Eartheater, Demon eartheater
DORADIDAE (1)
Talking catfishes
Trachydora nattereri
Talking catfish
AUCHENIPTERIDAE(2)
Driftwood catfishes
Auchenipterus nuchalis
Trachelyopterus sp
ASPREDINIDAE (1)
Banjo catfish
Dysichtys sp
Smooth banjo catfish
PIMELODIDAE (15)
Antenna catfishes
Brachypatystoma sp
Zungaro, Gilded catfish
Brachypatystoma filamentosum
Salton, Gilded catfish
Brachypatystoma flavicans
Dorado, Gilded catfish
Cheirocerus eques
Goslinea platinema
Mota flemosa
Heptapterus sp
Impartinnis sp
Hanhortiamdia sp
Megalonema sp
Microglanis sp
Bumble bee cat
Pimelodella gracilis
Slender pimelodella
Pimelodella lateristriga
Pimelodus maculatus
Cunshi
Pimelodus ornatus
Pimelodella angelica
Pimelodus pictus
Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum
Doncella, Shovelnosed catfish
Rhamdia quelen
Rhamdia sebae
Zungaro zungaro
Zungaro
CETOPCIDAE (1)
Pseudocetopsis plumbeus
Whale catfish
TRICHOMYCTERIDAE (4)
Parasitic catfishes, Pencil catfish
Branchioica sp
Trichomycterus vittatus
Trichomycterus sp
Vandellia plazaii
Candiru
HELOGENIDAE (1)
Helogenes marmoratus
Marbled catfish
CALLICHTHYIDAE (4)
Armored Catfish, Corydoras
Callichthys callichthys
Shirui, Slender Armored Catfish
Corydoras semiaquilus
Coridora, Sharp nosed corydora
Corydoras stenocephalus
Coridora, cory
Hoplosternum thoracathum
Shirui, Port hoplo, Atipa
LORICARIIDAE (13)
Suckermouth catfish
Ancistrus leucostictus
Bristle nose
Ancistrus sp
Bristle nose
Aphianatorulus frankei
Chaetostoma sp
Farlowella sp
Hemiodontichthys acipenserinus
Farlowella sp.
Hypoptoma gulare
Hypostomus sp
Plecostomus, Sucker catfish
Rineloricaria morrowi
Whiptail catfish
Rineloricaria sp
Whiptail catfish
Otocinclus vestitus
Dwarf sucker catfish
Otocinclus sp
Sucker catfish
Sturisoma nigrirostrum
FRESHWATER FISH AVAILABLE FROM PUERTO MALDONADO, PERU DISTRIBUTOR Aquarium Gone Wild Peru lists the following fish as being locally available in the Madre de Dios region.
Shark-repelling fishing gear in the works
(4/23/2008) Fishing gear that produces an electric field in sea water could help prevent sharks from becoming accidental bycatch, say scientists at NOAA.
Feds flood the Grand Canyon to save endangered fish
(3/5/2008) Federal government officials unleashed a flood of water from Glen Canyon Dam in northern Arizona to help restore the Grand Canyon's ecosystem which has suffered as a result of changes caused by the dam.
The copy for fish.mongabay.com was written in 1994-1995. Therefore some information such as scientific names may be out of date. For this, I apologize. Feel free to send corrections to me.
